Dear Reader,

While the last few months have been marked by a series of extreme weather events caused by climate change, we have also seen uplifting events; signs that the severity of the situation is starting to truly sink in with those who have the power to accelerate the green transformation – our politicians.

In the US, by what looked like a stroke of unexpected luck, Joe Biden looks set to get a deal that will spend nearly 362 billion US dollars over ten years to boost electric vehicles, jump-start renewable energy and develop alternative fuels. Even politician-wary climate activists seemed cautiously optimistic at the news, and needless to say that when the deal is (hopefully swiftly) passed, there will be cause for elation and celebration all over the cleantech sector. In Europe too, we had good news, as the EU Commission recently proposed a target of reducing CO2 emissions from cars by 55 per cent by 2030.

In this issue of Discover CleanTech our reporters get under the hood of the EV industry that will have to turbocharge to deliver on the targets; we look not just at the cars, but into the whole supply chain; the batteries, the minerals and the infrastructure. But carbon reductions will only work if they are implemented globally. So with input from Timo Harakka, the Finnish minister of transport, and Hui He, China regional director for the International Council on Clean Transportation, we explore how individual countries are using highly different means to reach their EV targets.

Of course, the green transformation is not just about cars or energy. When added up, the little treats that we enjoy every day can also have an enormous impact. Looking at two of the best ones, we investigate how the coffee and wine industries are combining new and old measures to help battle and weather the climate crisis. Indeed, this magazine demonstrates that, today, cleantech is everywhere, in your car, your favourite TV series - even your coffee; we love it, and we hope you’ll love reading about it too!